Three major periods of Egyptian history

Three major periods of Egyptian history: Pre-Dynastic Period 4350-3150 BCE Early Dynastic Period 3150-2670 BCE, Old Kingdom 2670-2150 BCE, Middle Kingdom 2150-1800 BCE , New Kingdom 1550-1070 BCE (includes Amarna period-1370-1350 BCE)

Egyptian architectural development parallels the chronology (see Egypt): Old Kingdom, 2680–2258 B.C.; Middle Kingdom, 2134–1786 B.C.; New Kingdom, 1570–1085 B.C. Old Kingdom remains are almost entirely sepulchral, chiefly the tombs of monarchs and nobles. The mastaba is the oldest remaining form of sepulcher; it is a rectangular, flat-roofed structure with sloping walls containing chambers built over the mummy pit. The pyramid of a sovereign was begun as soon as he ascended the throne. Groups of pyramids remain; those at Giza, which include the Great Pyramid of Khufu (or Cheops), are among the best known. Many Middle Kingdom tombs were tunneled out of the rock cliffs on the west bank of the Nile, among them the remarkable group (c.1991–1786 B.C.) at Bani Hasan. The New Kingdom years cover the great period of temple construction.

(Reasons) Egyptian houses: Ancient Egyptian houses were made out of mud collected from the Nile river. It was placed in molds and left to dry in the hot sun to harden for use in construction.

Many Egyptian towns have disappeared because they were situated near the cultivated area of the Nile Valley ad were flooded as the river bed slowly rose during the millennia, or the mud bricks of which hey were built were used by peasants as fertilizer.

Others are inaccessible, new buildings having been erected on ancient ones. Fortunately, the dry, hot climate of Egypt preserves some mud brick structures. Examples include the village Deir al-Madinah, the Middle Kingdom town at Kahun and the fortresses at Buhen and Mirgissa.

Egyptian temples were aligned with astronomically significant events, such as solstices and equinoxes requiring precise measurements at the moment of the particular event. Exterior and interior walls, as well as the columns and piers were covered with hieroglyphic anв pictorial frescoes and carvings painted in brilliant colours.

The Egyptians believed the dark area of the night sky around the stars appear to revolve was the physical gateway into the heavens. One of the narrow shafts that extends from the main burial chamber through the entire body of the Great Pyramid points directly towards the center of this part of the sky. This suggests that pyramid may have been designed to serve as a means to magically launch the deceased pharaoh’s soul directly into the abode of the gods.

The most brightest architects are: Imhotep (He is the first master architect we know by name, and was in charge of building the original step pyramid at Saqqara. This pyramid also set a precedent by including a collection of temples, pavilions, corridors, chapels and halls within the enclosure walls.), Hemiunu (is believed to be the architect of the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt), Ineni (the Temple of Karnak), Senenmut (Senenmut's masterpiece building project was the Mortuary Temple complex of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri).

The most brightest buildings are: different Mastabas, Zoser’s Step Pyramid, The great Pyramids of Gizeh,  The Theban Necropolis, The valley of the Kings, Mortuary Temples (like Hatshepsut’s temple near the Theban Necropolis), Abu Simbel, Temple at Karnak, Luxor Temple, and of course, pyramids like Pyramid of Giza and the Great Sphinx of Giza, Pyramids of Cheops, Hephren Pyramide, Pyramid of Mycerinus and Goser Pyramide.

Characteristics of Egyptian Architecture:

1. the two predominant building materials used in ancient Egypt were sun-baked mud brick and stone, mainly limestone, but also sandstone and granite in considerable quantities
2. our understanding of ancient Egyptian architecture is based mainly on religious monuments,^[5] massive structures characterized by thick, sloping walls with few openings, possibly echoing a method of construction used to obtain stability in mud walls.
3. the incised and flatly modeled surface adornment of the stone buildings
4. the use of the arch was developed during the fourth dynasty
5. all monumental buildings are post and lintel constructions, with flat roofs constructed of huge stone blocks supported by the external walls and the closely spaced columns.
6. Exterior and interior walls, as well as the columns and piers, were covered with hieroglyphic and pictorial frescoes and carvings painted in brilliant colors. Many motifs of Egyptian ornamentation are symbolic, such as the scarab, or sacred beetle, the solar disk, and the vulture. Other common motifs include palm leaves, the papyrus plant, and the buds and flowers of the lotus.